Wanted: Dead and Alive!

Wanted: Dead and Alive!

Colossians 3:1-11

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3 – NASB)

Those old Western movies were quite exciting. There was a lot of shooting, fighting and chases on horseback. There were robberies of stagecoaches, land barons evicting poor farmers from their land, Indian attacks, and the usual romance thrown in.

Something else was common in those movies – wanted posters posted on the Sherriff’s office wall; they usually read:

WANTED:

Dead or Alive

Reward: $5,000

            A picture of the wanted man was also prominently displayed on the poster.

God also has His wanted posters. Instead of using the phrase DEAD or ALIVE, I thought what God wants His people to be are those who are both dead and alive.

Imagine a poster like the following:

WANTED:

Men and women both

Dead AND Alive

Reward:

ETERNAL LIFE

            Only people who are both dead and alive can truly accomplish God’s will for their lives. We must be dead to sin, but alive to God through the life of Christ dwelling in us.

Now, if you have no idea what I am talking about, let me explain.

The Christian faith is not like other religions; it is supernatural in origin, and supernatural in its working. So, we are talking of a miracle based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. In that light nothing can be impossible – even being dead and alive at the same time. Even living a holy life.

Living a Christ-like life is not impossible, or loving God with all our hearts, minds and souls and strength – and our neighbours as ourselves.

By the power of the Gospel our old lives are dead. By faith we live a hidden life, dead to sin, and alive to God through Jesus Christ.

There is no other way.

Alive to God

(© 12^th May 2015 – by Christopher Shennan)

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3 – NASB)

The person you were is now dead.

If Jesus has redeemed your soul,

He has hidden your life in God,

And your spirit He has made whole.

Both dead and alive we both are;

Dead to sin and alive to God –

We’re born again of the Spirit –

We’re not on the path we once trod.

The blood of our Lord has cleansed us.

He paid for our sins on the Cross;

All that we thought was great gain,

We count now as nothing but loss.

I remember, praying out loud,

“Lord, please don’t let me go back there,

Where my life was burdened with sin.”

Now I find His love everywhere.

So I’m dead, and also alive;

My life is now hidden in God –

The things I regretted are past –

The path of forgiveness I’ve trod.

Please visit My website: www.christophershennan.ca
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Image is in the public domain.